the government's not really here? >> no, the government is not here. >> reporter: no one collects the garbage. there are no roads, no sewage pipes, no electricity, no public schools, no hospitals. what is here, malnutrition and disease. kibera is home to nairobi's so-called forgotten children. but there are exceptions. like here at the kibera school for girls. built by kennedy and jess, the school is their labor of love, a vision to give 100 little girls like vanessa their best chance to beat hopelessness. at only 8 years old, vanessa is already a survivor, having battled both malaria and cholera. she's one of the school's most promising students. i met vanessa the day i was asked to help teach her math class. she's smart and very sure of herself. but without this free school, vanessa would have no future. >> there are some community schools started by people in the community but they charge. they're forced to choose. they send a boy to school instead of sending a girl. >> reporter: that's exactly what happened to van